WBCq: Czechs lost to Spain to start WBC qualification

Czech national team started World Baseball Classic qualification against Spain on Saturday. The opponent who they faced in friendly games less than a week ago was too tough for them and so Czech cannot lose a game if they want to qualify to WBC.

Spain, who seemed more timid on Friday when they played against South Africa, started aggressively. Marek Minařík’s pitching seemed to fit them well as they took early 3 run lead in the first inning after a homerun from Jesus Ustariz. Czech leadoff Vojtěch Menšík, however, put his bat through the first pitch and lowered the deficit with a solo homerun.

If Czech fans hoped for a comeback, Spain made their optimism short lived in the following 2 innings, as they added 5 runs and took a decisive lead. Czechs bit back in the 4th inning when Vojtěch Menšík scored in the second Czech run and crowds in Regensburg came alive.

Spain didn’t leave anything to a chance as they scored one run after another in the 5th inning. Many of the fans had to have 2012 flashback, where Czech lost the first qualification game against Germany in six innings. Czech coaches tried to stop the opponent’s offense by changing their pithing, but even that wasn’t enough as Edison Valerio’s grand slam homerun changed the score to 18-2. But even this wasn’t the end of it, and Czechs had to start the bottom half of the inning 19 runs behind.

Czechs needed to score at least 5 runs if they wanted to prolong the game. The first batter in Marek Chlup kept the hopes alive with a solo homerun. This was then fanned by two run homerun from Matěj Menšík and solo homerun from Martin Mužík. Spanish defense was yet to get an out. Vojtěch Menšík then scored in the important fifth run and it was clear we get to see at least one more inning.

But Czech team wasn’t able to carry the momentum from the fifth inning and the game finished on mercy rule. Despite the loss, coach Alexander Derhak tried to see the positives „It was great to see the guys didn’t give up and they kept fighting. They also showed some good hits. It improved the mood in the dugout and I believe we can keep the momentum for tomorrow,“ he said at the press conference. Derhak is not worried 2012 will be repeated. „I’m not worried. This is a distant past for us. We have a great team in the dugout. Today we showed we won’t give up. We have a good plan and these guys are ready to show it tomorrow,“ said the coach before tomorrow’s duel against France.

The next game is played on Sunday at 13:00 and Czechs have to win if they want to continue in the qualification.

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